Samajwadi Party s Rajya Sabha nominations have sparked controversy among party leaders. Saleem Shervani and Swami Prasad Maurya resigned over lack of representation. MLA Pallavi Patel criticized the lack of diversity. The party s PDA strategy is being questioned.
The BJP surprised by naming Sanjay Seth, a former SP MP and top UP realtor, as its eighth candidate for the Rajya Sabha polls in UP. The move adds competition for the 10 vacant RS seats, posing a challenge for the Samajwadi Party (SP). With polls set for February 27, the BJP already announced seven names while the SP announced three, including Jaya Bachchan. Seth, a founder of Shalimar Corp, joined BJP in 2019 after quitting SP.
The Samajwadi Party (SP) unveiled its initial list of 16 candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, featuring three members from the Yadav family and three MLAs. Despite ongoing talks with the Congress in Uttar Pradesh, the SP s announcement signals a move forward. Notably, the list includes MP Dimple Yadav, Dharmendra Yadav, and Akshay Yadav, along with other prominent leaders. The release precedes Congress s announcement, indicating a potential push for alliance negotiations.
"The PDA strategy is being implemented through polling booths. We are also conducting a Samvidhan Bachao and Jan Chaupal program," Mithai Lal Bharti, president of SP s Ambedkar Vahini (Dalit wing) told ET, adding that the primary message of the party is social justice and protection of democracy.
The Opposition Samajwadi Party, Congress and the RLD are trying to play on caste and local sentiments to create obstacles in BJP s march. There are others like BSP which, despite having a decent vote share, are sitting on the fence. Smaller parties have largely gravitated towards the BJP.